First Trip to Walmart...

I must start by saying that I would call my first solo trip to Walmart with Emme a total success. Considering that the Denton Walmart has quite the reputation for being, let's call it, "interesting" at times- and I had no way to predict how baby was going to handle the outing, I really feel quite satisfied with my experience! Emme slept the entire time, including the car ride home- so no complaints here!

I do have a few things I must share though. I know that Emme is absolutely the most adorable baby- and can draw quite the fan club in public (which I don't mind!) But is it absolutely necessary for perfect strangers to touch random children? Especially when they are clearly newborns, covered with a blanket, and happily sleeping? I had a well meaning woman come up to my cart today and start touching Emme's toes and the blanket I had over her lower half. She didn't appear to be dirty or sick, but really? I felt the sudden need to disinfect my child as well as her clothing, pacifier, and car seat--- I was already nervous about her just setting foot in a Walmart for Pete's sake! I just never know how to handle people... you just want to blurt out, "You can look, but you can't touch!" :)

And one more funny thing- the guy that was checking us out was full of conversation and had lots of stories to tell. As I am about to pay and leave, he mentions that his wife is expecting and they just had an ultrasound to find out the gender of the baby. I replied, "Oh that's nice- boy or girl?" He responds, "It's a girl... pause... I mean, it's a boy! Crap!" Just made me laugh, and I wanted to say "Don't worry I won't tell you're wife... and you have a few more months to work on your response to that question." Funny stuff. Good times at Walmart...

Matters of the Heart

Emme's cardiologist appointment went very well today. Thank you for your prayers! After an EKG and and Echo, the doctor determined that she has 2 small holes in her heart, one towards the top, and the other towards the bottom. (Not even going to attempt the medical terminology!) He said that in 99% of cases the holes will close before the child reaches 1 yr. old. But even if they don't- he said that if the wall of her heart were to represent 100%, the holes would represent only 5%- and wouldn't be cause for operating. Those words were such a relief to hear! At the most, she will have to take antibiotics before surgeries and dental procedures to prevent infection. Emme and I are both worn out from our day's events-- but it is great reassurance to know that her little heart is pumping just fine. I know the Lord is caring for her each day... the Great Physician.

2 Week Check- Up

We had our 2 Week visit on Friday and Emme is growing wonderfully!

Here are the stats:
Height- 20 3/4 inches (75 %)
Weight- 8 lb 8 oz (75%)
Head Circumference- 36 cm (50%)

Praise the Lord she is so healthy! It was a busy day considering I had my 2 week check up, we got Emme's PKU done (2 pricks--- no fun at all!!!), and then went to see the pediatrician all in about a 4 hour time span!

One thing the doctor did notice however was that Emme has a heart murmur. He checked her femoral pulse though, and she is getting 100% flow. So Dr. Goff said no worries, but we need to get everything ok'd through the cardiologist. So we have an appointment to get an echo tomorrow and see for certain. Most likely it is a small hole that will either close over time, or just be a benign, "unique" thing that Emme has. I feel very at peace that everything will be ok- but please be in prayer for wisdom for the doctors and continued protection and good health for our little Em.

A New Mother's Prayer

I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
I need Thee, O I need Thee;Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son.

Annie Hawks the author of this hymn wrote:
One day as a young wife and mo­ther of 37 years of age, I was bu­sy with my reg­u­lar house­hold tasks. Sud­den­ly, I be­came so filled with the sense of near­ness to the Mast­er that, won­der­ing how one could live with­out Him, ei­ther in joy or pain, these words, “I Need Thee Ev­e­ry Hour,” were ush­ered in­to my mind, the thought at once tak­ing full pos­sess­ion of me.

After writ­ing the lyr­ics, Hawks gave them to her pas­tor, Ro­bert Low­ry, who add­ed the tune and re­frain. The hymn was first pub­lished at the Na­tion­al Bap­tist Sun­day School Con­ven­tion in Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio, in No­vem­ber 1872. Some years lat­er, af­ter the death of her hus­band, Hawks wrote:

I did not un­der­stand at first why this hymn had touched the great throb­bing heart of hu­man­i­ty. It was not un­til long af­ter, when the sha­dow fell over my way, the sha­dow of a great loss, that I un­der­stood some­thing of the com­fort­ing pow­er in the words which I had been per­mit­ted to give out to others in my hour of sweet se­ren­i­ty and peace.

A Baby Story (Emme Edition)

So I am finally sitting down to document the big day... August 7, 2009... a much anticipated day in the Oehlschlaeger household. It brings tears of deepest joy to my eyes just to think back upon the journey- so really I think that I have to back up a bit in order to make the story come full circle.
To really relish the amazing act of God's mercy and kindness that Emme's birth is to our family. I'm sharing it because I believe it is a true testimony of God's faithfulness and His ultimate Hand of Provision in our lives. A timeline, a testament of God's glory in all circumstances.

Praise the Lord- "thankful" is truly not a big enough word...

April/May 08'- Begin the process of "trying"

August 08'- We learn that we are expecting a baby in April 09'

September 08'- 1st ultrasound at 8 weeks shows us a heart beat and baby living in my womb

October 08'- 13 Week appointment determines that our baby has gone to be with Jesus, having no indication that anything was wrong- I have a D & C- as my body has not miscarried naturally.

Thanksgiving 08'- After a period of grieving, searching, and praying- Ben and I take a fabulous trip to the Smoky Mountains. We enjoy time in nature, and relaxing in God's creation. We also get to visit with our family at my brother's house in TN. A beautiful time of healing and peace for us as we really laid the experience to rest as a couple and move forward.

December 08'- Head to the doctor as my hormone levels are having trouble leveling off. Lots of labs, tests, and questions.

January 09'- Praise the Lord, we learn that an amazing miracle has occurred... I am pregnant! Multiple tests and ultrasounds confirmed doctors suspicions, and a heart beat ultimately determines that my due date is August 13, 2009.

January 09'-August 09'- A true walk of trust and seeking the Lord's hand of protection. For me every day was an act of CHOOSING to believe that no matter the outcome, God was for us.

August 7, 2009- I am induced! We could not believe this day had finally arrived!!! Excitement is an understatement!!!

6:30 am- Arrive at the hospital 3 cm. dilated, 80 % effaced after having contractions for about 1 week- but not severe enough to spark active labor.
7:30 am- Receive cervadil to help labor progress
Early afternoon- 5 pm- Start pitocin, about 5 cm. dilated
5:30 pm- Dr. Walsh decides to kick it into high gear and break my water!
5:31 pm- WOW!!!! The party gets started and it is clear that Emme is on the way!
6:30 pm- Decide to get pain meds and epidural, since progress is slow...
8:00 pm (ish)- Receive the epidural and am able to rest for about 2 hours- thank you, Lord! 10:00 pm- Begin pushing! Yeah!!!
11:05 pm- Emme enters the world. Praise the Lord!

What a miracle Emme is. Great is Thy faithfulness....

Gearing up for the Big Day!

So tomorrow is the day! The last month has probably felt like the longest of my life! Ben and I are both so ready to meet our little girl. We have talked so much about our anticipation and have decided that it feels like the ultimate Christmas present. It is so close, and yet feels so far away all at the same time. And it is a strange feeling to know that your life is about to change so completely just in less than 24 hours. We are beyond thrilled at the thought of finally have Emme in our arms. She has already been such a blessing to us. We have grown in our faith and trust in the Lord so much, and we pray that she will come to know the Lord early in a very personal way. When I look back on our journey the past year I can see the hand of God beginning this good work in us--- and we pray His mercy as it is continued to completion.